UPDATE [11:58am]: It seems that our brothers from the north are also getting ready for the PlayBook OS 2.0 update on the 21st. Various Best Buy Canada and Future Shop locations have confirmed the February 21st launch date as well.

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Until dates for any type of product launch and/or software update are announced officially, they tend to usually be "target dates" instead of being set in stone. It seems this will also be the case with the PlayBook OS 2.0 release date. Representatives at multiple Best Buy locations across the U.S. and Canada are receiving word that the PlayBook OS 2.0 upgrade will be made available to the public on Tuesday, February 21st.

Originally, we had heard the date of Friday, February 17th as the possible launch date but instead it seems like this date may end up being an internal target date to get everything in place (servers ready and loaded; etc) for the launch on the 21st.

RIM obviously does not want anything to go wrong with this update as it is one of the most anticipated software updates in BlackBerry history. This is why they could be opting to go with the safe bet of launching OS 2.O on a Tuesday instead of a Friday in case anything does go wrong. Whatever the date may end up being, Research In Motion will be on time with a major software update release. Great way to start off 2012.

The BlackBerry PlayBook 3G tablet has been rumored for quite some time now, and we were beginning to wonder is it was even going to happen. A new slide taken from what appears to be an internal RIM document gives us some nice information regarding the PlayBook 3G+ model.

If you notice the OS section of the description has not been defined. However, it is probably safe to assume that it will ship with a slightly modified version of OS 2.0 to help manage the 3G connections. Interestingly HSPA+ is also deemed by some carriers as 4G, so it will be interesting to see how that fits in.

The release date for this device is uncertain as the leaked roadmap appears to show the device being release the Q1 of 2013. Others say we could see some time in the latter part of this year. As for pricing that is anyone's guess but a good estimate would be anywhere between $300 and $400.

A quick summary of the specifications are as follows:

7 inch LCD screen with 1024x600 WSVGA resolution

1.5 Ghz dual core processor

1GB RAM

32GB flash memory

Records in full 1080p HD Video; H.264, MPEG4, WMV, HDMI output

3.0MP front facing camera and 5.0 back facing camera

802.11 a/b/g/n

Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR

There is not much of a difference between this one and the one that we currently have now, but it's still early yet and we may see some other changes.

Today, BGR has released actual evidence, in the form of official RIM slides, to support their BlackBerry road map article in which we learn a little bit more about what's new and reaffirm what we've already learned is in store for us this year:

7" BlackBerry PlayBook with built-in 3G (April 2012)

10" BlackBerry PlayBook with built-in LTE (late 2012 - early 2013)

PlayBook Tablet 2.0 (February 2012)

Mobile Fusion (April 2012)

Curve 9220 (April 2012)

Curve 9320 (May 2012)

First BlackBerry 10 (codenamed London in late September/early October)

We mentioned late last year that RIM would be releasing an official Bluetooth keyboard for the BlackBerry PlayBook. Our sources mentioned that it would be released around the same time OS 2.0 would be released. Recently more information on this accessory has surfaced and it looks promising. Here are some details on the features:

For the last 10 years, Zinio has become one of the most popular apps to bring magazines to consumers on the go. Adding to the wide variety of currently supported devices, the Zinio app will be available soon for the BlackBerry PlayBook. Current Zinio members will be able to access all their purchased subscriptions as soon as they sign in to their account upon launch of the app. If you don't have a Zinio account, you will be able to browse a pretty great collection of magazines in their store. Upon launch of the app, Zinio and BlackBerry will be giving a $25 credit to get you started.

Once again the popular jailbreak tool Dingleberry for the BlackBerry PlayBook has been updated, and includes some nice new features. The development team for Dingleberry have been working hard on improving the app and have added some really great features. The last release gave us a patch for Hulu and added auto detect root so that the restore process did not have to be repeated. This release now allows for a selection of Core OS and Full OS. Perhaps the biggest addition to this release is the ability to install .bar files. The installer creates a folder that you can place your .bar files and will install then this is great if you have a nice collection of .bar files and do not want to side-load them every time.

Take a look at the full change log here:

Improved upgrader/downgrader. Allows selection of Core OS and Full OS with a variety of firmwares. Will flash anything!

Includes a 'Custom' folder which will install any series of '.bar' files you want (mix and match).

Fixed bug with folders not existing. New folder structure. Move 'Firmware' folder to update OS list if new ones become listed.

Our friend Ronen from BerryReview has just received information from sources that RIM has set a launch date for February 17th to release PlayBook OS 2.0 to the masses. There have been numerous rumors flying around as to what the actual ETA will be, but if this rings true, we will be updating out PlayBook's shortly after Valentine's Day!

A new BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 Beta build has been released for developers, v2.0.0.7111, which can be obtained by re-registering your BlackBerry PlayBook for Beta access.To install the 2.0.0.7111 Beta on your PlayBook, you must register your PIN (see link below) and install the update within the 24 hour window.

This version of software contains support for developers to test their applications against the following runtimes:

Runtime for Android apps

Adobe AIR 3.0

WebWorks

Native API 2.0

Note: This beta version of OS 2.0 does not contain end user features such as: email, calendar contacts, video store, etc.

If you're in the market for a data plan, and have never in your entire life had one, AT&T is changing up their prices! Just don't be alarmed if you stumble upon past deals and are painfully alarmed by the difference. As of January 22nd, AT&T's new data plans will be as follows:

Data Plus (300 MB) = $20

Data Pro (3 GB) = $30

Data Pro (5 GB with Mobile Hotspot and tethering) = $50

In all honesty, and because my data plan grandfathers over, AT&T does have a valid point:

"Customers are using more data than ever before," said David Christopher, chief marketing officer, AT&T Mobility and Consumer Markets. "Our new plans are driven by this increasing demand in a highly competitive environment, and continue to deliver a great value to customers, especially as we continue our 4G LTE deployment."

Customers are encouraged to keep their device's Wi-Fi turned on because data usage over Wi-Fi does not count against a customer's monthly data plan. As an added value, AT&T smartphone and tablet customers have access at no additional charge to AT&T's 29,000 Wi-Fi hotspots nationwide - the nations's largest Wi-Fi network. **Customers can get more information at www.att.com/wifiaccess.

Next comes the reveal of tablet data plan prices, included are going to be BlackBerry PlayBooks when they're finally 4G compatible:

DataConnect (3 GB) = $30

DataConnect (5 GB) = $50

Current customers will have the option of keeping their current data plan, but also can decide to switch to one of the new ones. The 250 MB data plan for $14.99 will also still be up for grabs for tablet users.

At the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show InsideBB met up with Eric Wood from Electronic Arts to discuss the gaming experience on BlackBerry PlayBook tablets. Beyond the benefits of the 7-inch form factor for easy access to game controls and the top hardware performance for titles like Dead Space, they even got a sneak preview of Plants vs. Zombies, which is on its way to BlackBerry App World and the BlackBerry PlayBook platform!

This year in the BlackBerry Booth at the 2012 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas there was a Porsche 911 convertible on display loaded with QNX and BlackBerry technology, including mounted BlackBerry PlayBooks and custom digital displays. Check out the video to view a demonstration of the features and functionality straight from the QNX team. The Porsche won Best in Show for CES 2012 in the Auto Tech category.

See what's happening with BlackBerry at CES 2012. Check out some new features coming to your BlackBerry PlayBook with OS 2.0, and catch a glimpse of some of the great new apps for your BlackBerry smartphone or tablet. Be sure to watch for the upcoming release of BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0 as we'll keep you posted the second it becomes available.

Security researchers at this years Infiltrate security conference have discovered a new vulnerability that has potential to allow malicious applications to access personal information. Zach Lanier & Ben Nell both of the Intrepidous Group are responsible for finding the vulnerability.

This particular vulnerability relates to the PlayBooks native applications. When a native application for the PlayBook is created the developer has access to a unique file called the .ALL file. This file on the QNK based system allows them access to shared data or files. In short, there is a flaw which allows native developers access to files they should not have access to.

The .ALL file when used security researchers allowed them to access a PlayBook owners bookmarks, Wi-Fi access points, BBM username and info, desktop manager token, and the BlackBerry Bridge token. This token is pretty much the key that connects the BlackBerry device to the PlayBook. The Bluetooth connection between the PlayBook and phone is secure, but the problem is that this token can be used by a native developer to query the bridge for data they should not have access to.

RIM has spoken out about this vulnerability in the following official statement:

Media Statement: Infiltrate conference
“The BlackBerry PlayBook issue described at the Infiltrate security conference has been resolved with BlackBerry PlayBook OS 2.0, which is scheduled to be available as a free download to customers in February 2012. There are no known exploits and risk is mitigated by the fact that a user would need to install and run a malicious application after initiating a BlackBerry Bridge connection with their BlackBerry smartphone.”

So there you have it. It looks as though RIM will not be fixing this, as they state that OS 2.0 has resolved the issue. It seems as though the PlayBook and its QNX based OS is getting its fair share of security testing.

Retro gaming has always been a favorite thing for me to do on my spare time. There is nothing like breaking out the old Nintendo Entertainment System and playing a few classic levels of Super Mario Bros. Yes, you could always blow the dust off that old NES or SNES system, and spend a bit of time trying to get the game to work or you could use an emulator. Emulators have been around for quite a while, and exist on almost every platform. Perhaps one of the most popular NES emulators FCEUX, has been around since 2008, and is one of the most solid NES emulators out there.